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If you own pets then you know that accidents can happen at any time. While they can be difficult to deal with it’s important to know how to clean up these accidents properly based on what type of floor it occurred on to ensure the longest life!

It is imperative that you clean up your pet’s mess as soon as you notice it so that it imparts minimal damage to your floor. Next it is time to figure out what cleaning method to use based on what type of floor you need to treat.

First up, we will tackle an accident that you have to clean out of your carpet. Carpets can be tricky with pet stains because it can absorb the odor and stain and sometimes this makes it harder to remove the stain. You will want to remove any solid waste first if there is any and then you can blot the affected area. Next you will want to use carpet cleaner to clean the area. Be sure to remove excess cleaner and rinse the area with warm water so that it doesn’t collect soil. To find the perfect carpet cleaner for you, reference this site for carpet stains. Also remember to refer to the manufacturer’s instructions for cleaning.

Hardwood floors that have been finished and sealed can be cleaned up with paper towels and regular cleaner to remove any liquids and solids there may be. Be sure to not use harsh chemicals so that you do not damage the finish.

Ceramic tile floors are easy to clean too. Simply remove any of the excess liquid and solid mess and then use warm water to clean. Use a rag or micro-fiber mop and clean in a circular motion across the affected area. If there is staining in the grout you can use a toothbrush to scrub. After you have cleaned the area you can choose to use a mild cleaner to disinfect, but be sure to use a cleaner without bleach or ammonia as this can damage your floor.

These are different ways of protecting the life of your flooring and making sure to promptly clean any pet stains as soon as possible is the best way to do this. Let us know what cleaning tips and tricks you’ve learned yourself below!

How to Protect your Radiant or Induction Cooking Surface

Smooth glass/ceramic cooking surfaces have many advantages over traditional electric elements. In addition to the smoothtop's clean uninterruped appearance, they're far easier to clean and they provide an even, reliable source of cooking heat. Smooth “glass” cooking surfaces may also referred to by trade names such as Ceran® or even by the manufacturer such as Schott. Whether you're cooking with induction or radiant systems, both cooking surfaces need to be used with care. In the case of induction, spills can be easily wiped up immediately because the top stays relatively cool.

These tops are durable and long-lasting. With care, you can look forward to using them for many years. Nevertheless, they can break if you drop something on them. My daughter's cat pushed a decorative pot off a shelf above her range, and KABOOM! In her case, replacing the top cost almost as much as purchasing a new range.

Cookware

Any cookware with a rough bottom can permanently scratch glass surfaces. This includes your Grandma's favorite cast iron frying pan. Also, check that colorful and expensive ovenware and make sure the bottom is perfectly smooth before you use it on your cooking surface.

Be careful about leaving cooking utensils on the cooking surface. if the plastic handle melts and sticks to the surface, it could ruin the top.

Cooking Ingredients

Sugar and salt, two of the most common ingredients used for cooking can be the enemy of your rangetop. Sugary overflows can carmalize and seep into microscopic spaces in your cooktop where it cannot be removed. A heavy pan on top of gritty salt crystals can permanently scratch the cooking surface. Wipe up spills, especially sugary overflows immediately, and keep the top clean.

Using the top as a work surface

I've recently recently seen advice from a well-known designer, stating that an advantage of a smooth cooking surface is that it can be used as a work surface and even as a prep area. Danger! Danger, Will Robinson! That glass surface is not a cutting board. Nor is it designed as a storage area for heavy items.

Do I need to say this? NEVER stand on the cooktop. It may seem to support your weight. However later, when you turn on the cooktop, as the glass expands it could easily begin to crack or shatter due to unseen stress fractures. The same holds true for placing and leaving heavy items on the cooktop.

Much of this is common sense. It's easy to think of the cooking surface in your kitchen as a continuation of your countertop, but it's not. It's an expensive major appliance.

Please read the manual that came with your cooktop or range for detailed instructions on your specific appliance. In addition, Schott has detailed information on their glass by clicking on their FAQ below:

Refrigerator Icemaker Issues

1. Clearing ice that is clogged in your icemaker bin or mechanism.

It is not unusual for ice cubes to occasionally freeze or clump together in a corner of the ice bucket. Don’t use a knife or other sharp metal device to pry the ice from the bin. You might very well damage your ice bin. The easy and simple way to remove clogged ice cubes no matter where they are in the ice bin is to remove the ice bin from the freezer, turn off the icemaker, and let the ice thaw out. This method works well and avoids damage to your ice bin.

Issues with insufficient ice production can somtimes be caused if the freezer temperature is too high. Make sure the icemaker is holding a temperature near zero. Refrigerators that are out of level can also have reduced ice production because some of the cube molds don’t fill with water.

If your icemaker doesn’t stop making ice when the bin is full, check the shutoff arm. It could be stuck in an open position. Release the lever and remove excess ice cubes. Similarly, if your icemaker isn’t making ice, the shutoff arm could be stuck in the off position.

If the problem isn’t with the icemaker shutoff arm, examine your water supply line for leaks or kinks. Adjust the water valve for more flow if necessary.

Finally, the filter may be clogged and need replacing.

3. Ice tastes bad.

Clean the ice bucket and the ice tray. Test water in water supply line. Replace the water filter if necessary.

This is part of an ongoing series on refrigerator use and care. Click links below to related blogs:

Getting Rid of Moisture in the Refrigerator

Occasionaly we get complaints from refrigerator owners dealing with water build-up in the refrigerator. This is usually evidenced with drops or even small puddles of water collecting on top of containers in the refrigerator.

First, let’s recognize that there is no function of the refrigerator’s operation that produces water. A line might run from the sink to the refrigerator and connect to the ice-maker and water dispenser, but this water is not produced by the refrigerator, and it is not the cause of moisture in the refrigerator.

3 Causes of Moisture Build-Up in Your Refrigerator

1. Open Containers or uncovered food

If you put leftovers in tupperware or other refrigerator containers, make sure that the container is properly sealed. Cold air needs to circulate around these containers – not inside them. Do not store food uncovered in your refrigerator unless it is in a designated storage bin.

2. Excessive Opening and Closing

Maybe you’re like me, and you like to take inventory in the refrigerator.

SHE: “What are you doing in the refrigerator?”ME: “I’m just looking.”SHE: “What for?”ME: “I don’t know. Just checking.”SHE: “Close the door!”

So, if you do that, and your kids do that (all day long during summer break), you are letting the cold air out, and introducing warm, moist air into your refrigerator. You’re making your refrigerator work harder and as that warm air is cooled you could get some water droplets on the top of items stored in the fridge.

3. Defective or Dirty Gaskets

When you’re doing the routine cleaning of your refrigerator, make sure that you clean the gasket on your refrigerator and freezer doors. Check the gaskets for tears or gaps. Use the dollar bill test. Put a dollar bill between the door gasket and the refrigerator cabinet and close the door. If the dollar bill falls out or easily slides up and down, you have an air leak, and may need to replace or repair the gasket.

For more refrigerator care and use tips click on the link below to download a helpful pdf:

New Dishwasher? What Now?

3 Steps to get you going with your new dishwasher.

You finally have the new dishwasher you’ve been wanting for so long! You’re just itching to load it full of dirty dishes, and let the new dishwasher do its magic. Well, not just yet. Let’s take a few minutes to familiarize ourselves with this magic machine. Here’s a list of three steps that will get you headed in the right direction:

Check the exterior. Is the dishwasher level? Does the door open and close without rubbing or hitting anything? Make sure that the dishwasher is fastened in and doesn’t fall forward when you open the door. The electrical should be connected to a grounded outlet or junction box, and the water line connected to the water supply and turned on. The dishwasher drain line must also be connected at your disposer or sink. The water inlet and drain fittings should be tight and the hoses should have no kinks. All OK? Let’s move on to step 2.

Check the interior. Have all the packing materials, and manuals been removed? Remove any pieces of styrofoam wedged against the dishwasher racks that keep them from rolling back and forth during shipping. Now, roll the racks back and forth to make sure there is nothing impeding their movement. If everything looks good inside and out, we can move on to step 3.

Find your use and care manual. Somewhere inside your dishwasher, or in an adjacent drawer there should be a plastic bag with the warranty, install instructions, a use and care manual, and various other treasures. Before throwing all this in a box with the rest of your papers, remove the use and care manual from the bag. Well, maybe you’re not going to read the entire manual, but at a minimum you should familiarize yourself with the dishwasher operation and controls…please!

If you want to find out even more on general dishwasher use and care, we’ve produced a new video covering some of the essentials. It’s only about 3 minutes long, and should get you going in the right direction. Watch below:

4 Tips for Cleaning and Maintaining your Dishwasher

1. Clean the dishwasher filter

Some dishwashers have built-in food disposers, i.e. choppers (above) while others have filters that collect larger food particles. Periodically, the filters need to be removed and cleaned. Read the operating instructions of your dishwasher to determine how often your dishwasher filter needs cleaning. We clean ours about once a month.

2. Check for water leaks and bad seals.

It’s a good idea to examine and clean the gasket that seals the dishwasher door with the liner. Eventually, this seal could develop tears, gaps, or cracks. Replace when necessary (service call). Also, take a look at the water inlet connection and hose, as well as the drain hose. If your house is older, the water inlet valve might show some corrosion. Be aware, that this could become a problem, so keep an eye on it. When you eventually replace the dishwasher, replace the connecting hoses as well as the valve. In the meantime, any hoses that show signs of kinks, splits or leaks should be replaced.

3. Inspect the dishwasher interior.

Do the dishwasher racks roll in and out smoothly? You might be able to tighten or replace a faulty wheel. Also, if any of the coating on the racks has worn off, the racks could begin to rust. Take a good look at the dishwasher tank itself, and satisfy yourself that it is also in good condition.

4. Test the controls and give the dishwasher front a good once over.

As long as you’re doing periodic maintenance, test the dishwasher controls. You never know when you might want to use the quick wash, the china cycle, the sani-cyle, etc. Finally, run your hand along the door edges, examine the latch and hinges: lubricate if needed.

Depending on the dishwasher, an average life expectancy could be 10-12 years. Premium dishwashers might easily last for up to 15 years. And at least one of the very high end luxury (expensive) dishwashers is promoted as being built to last 20 years. Take good care of your dishwasher and it will take good care of you.

When it’s time to replace, have your contractor or remodeler contact Arizona Wholesale Supply to help you with a new dishwasher that meets your needs and your budget. Arizona Wholesale Supply carries all the major brands as well as a wide variety of specialty brands, and has been Arizona’s leading distributor since 1944. Family Owned and Operated.

Selling your Home? Make Your Appliances Ready for the Buyer

Tips from Arizona Wholesale Supply

When selling a home, built-in appliances such as the range and dishwasher convey with the house since they're attached. However, the washer and dryer and freestanding refrigerator do not go with the deal unless they are specifically written into the agreement. These days though, it is very common for the buyer to request the refrigerator, washer, and dryer as part of the sale.

If you are selling your home, here are a few things you should do to make you appliances “buyer ready”.

1. Gather up your instruction manuals and, warranty cards, and put them in a binder for the buyer or leave them in a kitchen drawer.

2. Check for accessories and parts that go with the appliances and make sure that you leave them behind for the buyer. These include:

Oven temperature probe

All included oven racks

Broiler pan. Some manufacturers no longer include broiler pans with their ovens. If this was the case, and you purchased your broiler pan separately, you should take it with you because you may need it in your new home.

Refrigerator water filter plug. If your refrigerator has a water filter, there should be a plug that replaces the filter if no water filtration is desired. Leave this with the refrigerator.

Microwave oven racks and any included microwave cooking vessels.

Dryer rack.

3. Clean the dryer filter AND the dryer duct. Dryer ducts can fill up with lint and are a leading cause of home fires.

4. Clean the oven. This is often neglected. Check our videos below for tips on cleaning your oven.

5. If the buyer is not moving in immediately, leave an open box of baking soda in the refrigerator, and pour a half cup of white vinegar in the dishwasher sump.

Now, we've got some advice on washer maintenance, as well as a few tips on how to prepare your washer if you leave for the summer (or winter). Here's a brief (2 1/2 minute) video that covers the essentials.

We've produced additional videos on:

Care and maintenance of your dishwasher

Dishwasher detergents, additives, and rinse aid

Choosing a water softener

Salt in your water softener

Reverse osmosis systems

Cleaning your high efficiency washing machine

Washing machine maintenance

go to the Arizona Wholesale You Tube Channel for all of our current videos.